The 2016 Nissan Altima is associated with 552 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 153 reports (28% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5l 4-cyl and 3.5l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 26 to 31 MPG combined.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 552 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Powertrain (153 / 28%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 28 crash / 3 fire / 17 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 26–31 MPG (3 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Altima | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 27 MPG | 39 MPG | 31 MPG | — | $2,000 / yr |
| Altima SR | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 26 MPG | 37 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Altima | 3.5L 6-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S7) | 22 MPG | 31 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR FWD | | | | | 10.299999999999999% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Nissan Altima models.
View complete 2016 Nissan Altima crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Nissan Altima problems & component breakdown (107 categories) →
Affected Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
Defect Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owners Manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: Recall 16V-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 Altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16V-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT
Defect Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles, previously remedied under recall number 17V-040. The door latch-lock cable may not have been routed properly in the rear door when the remedy was applied. As a result, the cable may interfere with the window regulator causing the rear passenger door to unlatch and inadvertently open without warning when the window is lowered.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will secure the latch-lock cables in the correct position using the new remedy procedure, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7669.
Affected Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Defect Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Altima vehicles. The rear door latch/lock cable on the vehicles may have been improperly routed. As a result, lowering a rear window may inadvertently cause that door to unlatch and open.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will correct the rear door latch/lock cable routing, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
View all 2016 Nissan Altima recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →